Hopkinsville’s Mayoral seat is up for grabs this election season, and the Republican candidates seeking the office shared their stances on local matters at Monday’s Hopkinsville League of Women Voters forum.
Mayor J.R. Knight is running for reelection, and he will face current District Seven Christian County Fiscal Court Magistrate Russ Guffey and former Ward One Hopkinsville City Council Member Natasha Francis. On Monday, the trio fielded questions about the growth of essential services, spotlighting LGBTQ+ residents, accommodations for housing developers and their ideas for the future of the downtown area.
When it comes to attracting more residents to Hopkinsville, the candidates all mentioned the need for more affordable housing as a key factor. Knight says Hopkinsville has great-paying jobs, but without enough housing options, the people taking those jobs tend not to move to the city and commute from Clarksville or Madisonville.
Following the demolition of the Phoenix Building and the Blue Streak Printers Building, a portion of East 9th Street in downtown remains empty. While there might be new businesses interested in developing the area, Guffey says the space could also be used to help a current Hopkinsville business expand. He says new jobs would still be made, and it would support a business that has already invested in Hopkinsville.
During these forums, housing has been a recurring topic. While housing developments are underway across the city, Francis says roadways leading to these new developments should be updated to support increased traffic flow and the new residents moving in.
Knight, Guffey and Francis will face off in the primary election on May 19, and the winner will face Democratic candidate Markeeta Oldham Wilkerson and Independent candidate Desapa Vansauwa in the general election. The full mayoral forum is available at the City of Hopkinsville’s YouTube channel.